Reeling from the Reality Check

Historybuff

Latest little setback...payday being on a Friday and there being a Bank Holiday meant that my standing order payments were late reaching the banks this month! Hope that's taken into consideration and they don't play up! Eek!
Just when you think you have everything under control!

Seasidegal58

They're a nightmare aren't they?! I think you're right in handling your DMP yourself so you can keep on top of it:mad:

Historybuff

Thanks, seaside gal! I definitely feel by doing it yourself you can keep a tighter check on things.
Well, now that the payments etc are sorted out on the new bank account, I am turning my attention to working on building up a £3000 emergency fund as I now have no credit available. I've been reading Martin's book and lurking around the forums to give myself inspiration. So here goes:
Frugality - only spending money if something is NEEDED
Food - cooking more meals from scratch and using what's in the freezer. Take inspiration from Boy Called Jack book
Improve income - sell anything we don't need. Carboot the lot
Budget - stick to the budget religiously, no overspending anywhere
I've now bought YNAB and am updating it each time an amount is spent. This is a lifesaver.
I wish I had started this ages ago, but hindsight is a marvellous thing.
Just been reading a forum about building wealth. That's what I want to do. Pay down the debt and start to build wealth. Bit late in the day, I know, but moving forward things will hopefully start to improve. The £3000 emergency fund is just the start.
Actually I'm very proud of the fact that after a lifetime of overspending and chaotic finances, I have now had four months of staying within budget so that debt mountain is now shrinking! Yay!
It will take some time, but my goal is to hit retirement debt and mortgage free.

gallygirl

Historybuff wrote: »

Actually I'm very proud of the fact that after a lifetime of overspending and chaotic finances, I have now had four months of staying within budget so that debt mountain is now shrinking! Yay!
It will take some time, but my goal is to hit retirement debt and mortgage free.

With that mindset I'm sure you will . Congratulations on your progress so far :T.

Historybuff

Thanks galleygirl, positivity rules!

Fortune_Smiles

Well done HB - fabulous progress!


Fortune x

Historybuff

Thanks Fortune...got to keep positive!
£80 from today's carboot. Not bad from a pile of old junk. That's £197 this month towards the emergency fund with the £117 left in the budget. Surely I can round it up to £200.
And the sun is out...calls for a little Prosecco celebration, I think. (Another bottle left over from Christmas. Think we overbought on the alcohol a bit)
Cheers!

Seasidegal58

Well done on the moneysaving and the lucrative carboot sale!


Your things to do list sounds spot on - I think the emergency fund is a necessity. I actually funded my own of £1,000 in a cash ISA with my then overdraft and then used a credit card money transfer to pay that. Weird I know but the comfort of having that money put away made me feel so much better! When the debts finally go in a couple of years time I want to top it up to six months worth of salary!


The Jack recipes are great - I've looked at a few and thought well these ingredients look a bit odd, but when you cook them up they are really tasty - and so cheap!


YNAB is fantastic! I'm definitely buying it after my trial is over - I'm turning into quite a YNAB geek!


Enjoy your Prosecco!

Historybuff

Thanks Seaside! So this week I'm aiming to have four no spend days, not counting the usual bills that are all on standing orders. No money is coming out of my purse till Friday. Well earned spa break with the girls coming up that day. £100 budgeted for...dinner, bed, breakfast, use of facilities and a one hour treatment. bargain! Looking forward to that.
I got the idea of voicing three positive things each day from another thread, so here goes for today:
Fridge and food cupboards are stocked up with enough food for at least a week
I'm off to an early start today and not rushing around like a maniac
Yesterday, I threw away a whole box of stuff that had not sold through three carboot sales and didn't bring it back into the house

What's your three positives? Have a good day all! The suns coming out.

Seasidegal58

It's all sounding good to me! Especially the spa break! Do you feel you are a lot more organised than you were previously ?

Can think of two positives that happened to me today:

• Friend gave me her barely used Clinique power compact!
• Boss was out all day at charity golf event so I was able to get on without being interrupted all the time! (no he's lovely really but it's nice to be able to concentrate fully on what you are doing! )